Liquid cooling and dispensing device



Sept. 22, 1953 A FIGI.

D. H. SNIADER LIQUID COOLING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 5. 1950 FIGZ.v

FIGS

INVENTOR v DAVID HIADER "BY M ATT'YI Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STAT 1;.

I; PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a liquid cooling and dispensing device. More particularly it relates to a cooling and dispensing device wherein a plurality of coils are spirally wound about a reservoir tank in superposed relationship.

Cooling and dispensing devices which may be used for cooling and dispensing a variety of liquids consist, generally, of a reservoir casing or tank. A refrigerant coil is spirally wrapped around the tank in heat exchange relation and additional coils containin liquid to be cooled are wrapped around the refrigerant coil in somewhat superposed relation. The conventional construction is disclosed in the Smith Patent 2,063,002 patented December 1, 1936. In this construction it can be seen that the coils are disposed in superposed relation, but that a cross sectional view through the coils shows that they are positioned in somewhat of a pyramidal relation. In this position, during assembly, the coils are solder dipped and they are thus securely connected to each other and to the tank. In this construction therefore the reservoir tank is completely enveloped between the coils and the coils themselves are connected together in close unitary relation. This type of construction has been found to be unsafe from the point of contamination. Supposing for instance that a leak were to develop in the sides of the tank and simultaneously another leak were to develop in the refrigerant lines or in one of the liquid containing coils. Since the coils are held together in the unitary closed manner, such a leak might very well continue undetected for a considerable period of time with resulting contamination since refrigerant would mix with the liquid to be cooled. Thus in this conventional construction, intermingling or contamination of the liquids might easily occur and continue in an undetected manner. It is applicants prime object therefore to provide an improved cooler and dispenser structure wherein any leaks can be instantly detected before damaging contamination can result.

Still another object is to provide a cooler having a plurality of spirally wound coils, wound on top of the other in superposed relation, the individual coil turns being vertically spaced and substantially apart with respect to each other to expose portions of the coils and a reservoir tank in a manner facilitating the detection of leaks.

A further object is to provide a cooler construction including a plurality of coils connected together in superposed relation and being laterally aligned, coil turns of the structure being vertically spaced and substantially apart with respect to each other.

Another object is the provision of a cooler including a tank having a plurality of spirally wound coils positioned around the tank, the coil turns being of varying diameters and being po- 2 sitioned in superposed laterally aligned vertically spaced and substantially apart relation.

These and further objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of the specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a cooler and dispenser having portions broken away to better illustrate the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View in elevation through the cooler reservoir showing the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a detail view of a spacer member.

A cooling and dispensing device is generally designated by the reference character W. The cooler l0 includes a'reservoir tank I I mounted on a support bracket 52. A tube 13 projects downwardly into the tank ll adjacent the bottom thereof. The tube [3 may be in communication with a conduit 14 which will carry liquid to be dispensed. The cooler presently shown is especially adapted for soda fountains and in view of the large quantities of cold water that are needed, the tank I I may be used as a cold water reservoir. It is readily apparent of course that the cooler is not limited to this use.

A coil section i5 is spirally wrapped around the tank in heat exchange relation therewith, the section it being connected to a branch line l5 which is adapted to connect to a source of refrigerant (not shown). The coil section it is thus a refrigerant expansion coil. A second coil section it is wrapped in spiral fashion around the coil section I5 as best shown in Figure 2.

The section I6 is in communication with the section l5 and a branch l'l discharges the refrigerant to the source of refrigerant or refrigerating mechanism (not shown).

The refrigerant coils l5 and it include coil turns i8 and 19 respectively which are positioned in laterally aligned and spaced relation. A coil section 20 is spirally wound between the coils l5 and H5. The coil section 20 consists of coil turns 2| which are of lesser diameter than the turns it and i9 and are sandwiched in or disposed between the said coil turns in laterally aligned heat exchange relation. In soda fountain use, this smaller coil section 20 may contain soda water, a branch pipe 22 leading to a suitable source of soda water (not shown). A branch line 23 delivers the soda to a suitable line for dispensing.

A water coil 24 is in communication with the reservoir tank H as indicated at 25. The water coil 24 is spirally wound around the coil it in superposed relation, and includes coil turns 26 connected to the coil turns [9 of the coil 16 in contiguous heat exchange relation. A branch section 21 of the coil 24 leads to a source of water supply (not shown).

The cooling unit It) is adapted to fit into a conventional dispensing arrangement in a well known manner and the means whereby the unit is connected tosuch asystem need notrbe gone into in this disclosure; The invention-as above indicated in the objects lies in the manner in which the spirally wound coils are positioned. A pluralityof spacer members 28 are circumierentiallv posia tioned and vertically spaced for supporting the coil turns and to keep them in verticallyspaced and substantially apart relation... Asbestshown. in Figure 2 it can be seen that the spacers 28 are so shaped that they will support the coiltturns in laterally aligned superposed relation with a free vertical .spacebetween. each of the; coiLturns so that portions. of. the=tank,. I] betweenthe-coil. turns are exposed at all times. The; spaces between the= coil turnseare: designated; by. ef-'- erence, character 29. The spacermembersiB may. be of any suitable shape or designtending to. maintain the vertically spaced.andsubstantially apart relation of. the-,c.oil.turns.-

The improvement thusshown consists of the. spirally wound tubes which aremaintained. in: superposed heat exchange relation withthe coil turns laterally aligned in contiguous relationand vertically spaced and substantially apart with re spect'to each other.

As shown certain of. thecoilsmay be, of varying diameters. It can be seenthatz when'this; as-- sembly is solderdipped toiasten all the parts together with solder as indicated at'39; a sufficient free space will be maintained between the' coil turns so that any leakages can immediately be detected before contamination-can take place. Any leak would be immediately noticeable since the coil, turns are separated andthe. leakingliquid. would. become. immediately noticeable.

It can now be. seen that an.improved.;cooler. and dispenser has been providedand itmust be. understood that, changesmaywbe made. which .do not-depart from the spirit o,f..the;invention asidiseclosed, nor; the; scope; thereof as g definedinthe:- appended claims:

What is claimed2- 1. A' liquid cooler anddispensencomprisinga: reservoir tank, a first'coiljoffcircular crossesection: spirally wound around said: tank; Said'ffiTSl/T coilibeing adapted to connect-tea. source ofirefri r erant, a. second coil. of i circular crossrsection; spirally wound 'around said filStz'zCOll, saidrsecondi coil being laterally spaced fromsaidz-tankxandiene gaging said first coil insuperposedrheatexchange relation, a third coil of: circular crossesections spirally wound about said secondicoil and engaging said second coil in superposed-iheat exchangerelation, a fourth coil of: circular; cross-section. spirally wound about said third coiland engaging; said third coil in-superposed:heat;exchange.relation, said third coil being in. communication withv said firstcoil and adapted to contain refrigerant, said second and fourth coils being adapted.to.con-- tain liquid to be cooled, one -of:said-second and fourth coils being. connected :and in .communication with said reservoir; tank; eachof-said"coils: including coil turns securely connected to'each other in superposed heat exchange. relationand laterally spaced with respectto said:;tank,- .said coil turns being vertically spaced: substantially apart'with respectto each-other to provide. open spaces between said turns andaccess to the outer surface of saidtank; and a plurality; of :circumferentially disposed and vertically; spaced spacer members, disposed between the coil. turns .andc n- 4 nected to the tank, for maintaining the vertical spaced relation of said coil turns.

2. A liquid cooler and dispenser comprising a reservoir tank, a. first refrigerant coil spirally wound around said tank for engaging the same in heat exchange relation, a plurality of coils spirally wound around said refrigerant coil in superposed,relation.laterally spaced from said tank, one of'said' coils being in communication with saidrefrigerant coil, another of said coils being adaptedto contain liquid to be cooled and being disposed between the refrigerating coils and connectedzthereto in heat exchange relation, means connecting said liquid to be cooled coil to said tankfor. communication therewith, each of. said coils. including coil. turns, securely connected. to. each other... inheat. exchange. relation, the. coil turnsbeing vertically spaced substantially apart with respect to eachother to provide open spaces between said turns whereby portions of the tank are exposedbetween. the turns, and a plurality of circumferentially disposed. and vertically spaced. spacer members connected to the tank and. disposed between the coilturns forv positioning the coil turns. in they vertically spaced relation.

3. A liquid cooler and dispenser comprising a reservoir. tank, a first coil of circular cross-section spirally wound around said tank, said first coiLbeing adapted to connect to a source of re-- frigerant, a second. coil of circular cross-section spirally wound around said firstcoil, said second coil being laterally spaced from said tank and engaging said first coil in superposed heat exchange relation, a third coil of circular cross-section spirally wound about said second coil and engaging said second coil in superposed heat. eX- change relation, a fourth coil of circular crosssection spirally wound about said thirdcoil and engaging said thirdcoil in superposed heater:- change relation, said third coil being incommunication with. said first coiland adapted to.

contain refrigerant, said second andffourth coils. beingofjlesser cross-sectional diameter than said? first and third coils for containing liquid to be cooled, one .of said second and fourth coils being connectedand, in communication with said reservoir tank, each of said coilsincludingcoil turns securelyconnected' to; each other in superposed heatexchange'relation-and laterally spaced with respect to" said tank, said coil turns being verticallyspaced substantially apart with respect to each other to provide open spaces between said" turns and-access to the outer surface of said tank,.

a plurality of-circumferentially disposed and vertically spaced spacer members, each of said spacer" members extending laterally from said tank to said fourth coil and having narrow portions adapted to contact andvertically space equidistantly said first and third coils and having wide portions adapted to contact and vertically space equidistantly said second and fourth'coils, said spacermembers being disposed between the coil turns and connected to the tank for maintaining the-vertical spacedrelation of saidcoil turns.

DAVID H; SNIADER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES, PATENTS 

